Studer Community Institute

Standup paddle boarding continues to make waves along the Gulf Coast

April 3, 2015
/ Staff Reports
/ economy

Fitness Onboard®, LLC and Coastal Paddle Company are pleased to announce their partnership for the upcoming 2015 season, at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 360 Fort Pickens Road, located on Little Sabine. Locals and tourists who are interested in standup paddle boarding this summer can participate in a combination of what both businesses have offered to our community over the years. Coastal Paddle Company offering Fitness Onboard classes, will offer stand up paddle rentals, lessons, fitness classes, full moon paddles, kid’s camps and much more. In addition to SUP, this location will now also offer kayak and bicycle rentals. The two companies have worked together on multiple occasions and look forward to continuing to help grow the sport of standup paddle boarding, together, along the Gulf Coast. Coastal Paddle Company opened their doors in 2010 as the original dedicated stand up paddleboard shop offering stand up paddle sales, rentals and lessons in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola area. Coastal Paddle Company was founded by SUP enthusiast and Gulf Breeze resident Kevin Cook and his family who saw a need in the area to offer high quality SUP equipment and knowledgeable, quality instruction. Cook is Paddle Fit level 3 certified, WPA certified, and has trained with Dave Kalama. “Our desire is to share our passion of stand up paddling with our community and to increase community awareness of the sport. We want to outfit our customers with the right gear and make sure they have a great experience out on the water,” Cook said. In 2012 Coastal Paddle Co. expanded by opening their Coastal Paddle Company Adventures location offering SUP rentals, SUP lessons, parties and events, located at 5 Via De Luna on Pensacola Beach on the property adjacent to Red Fish Blue Fish restaurant. SUP rentals and activities will continue to be offered at this location as well as the new collaborated Margaritaville location. “Coastal Paddle Co. is dedicated to organizing community events that showcase the popular sport of standup paddleboarding and provide a venue for area SUP enthusiasts to connect and compete” states Cook. Their Fourth Annual Five Flags Paddleboard Race will be held this summer in addition to many other planned community events. In addition to being the area’s exclusive YOLO Board dealer, Coastal Paddle Company has grown to be a coastal outdoor outfitter for the area offering a great selection of equipment, accessories and apparel from Patagonia, The North Face, Southern Tide, Southern Marsh, Southern Shirt Co., Eno Hammocks, Kuhl, Chaco , Olukai shoes and much more. Their retail shop is located at 314 Gulf Breeze Parkway, in the Gulf Breeze Shopping center, in Gulf Breeze proper. Fitness Onboard® was established in 2010 as a SUP fitness company, offering group fitness classes such as Yoga, Bootcamp and Pilates, while on a standup paddle board. Fitness Onboard® Founder Cindi Bonner, an exercise physiologist, saw a need to fill a gap in the area of outdoor fitness offerings. As a SUP enthusiast herself, Bonner loved the idea of combining her passion with her hobby. “The idea was to generate an interest in something new to the area. We are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful beaches and waterways that are underused and perfect for standup paddleboarding for the entire family. Participants of all ages and abilities can actively participate, while helping Pensacola become a healthier community”, said Bonner. With their success, offering many services at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel, Fitness Onboard® expanded. Now, respected and recognized internationally as top specialists in the areas of SUP education and SUP product development. In 2011, Bonner developed and patented the concept for the first paddleboard designed specifically for fitness. Since 2012, Leah Seacrest has served as Vice President of Fitness Onboard®. Seacrest, who has 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, collectively worked with Bonner to create the Fitness Onboard Certification© (FOC©). The FOC©, a comprehensive fitness certification, is recognized by top fitness companies worldwide who grant its participants continuing education credits upon completion of the FOC© course. Together, Bonner and Seacrest formed SUPcessories™, LLC, a product development company whose list of SUP accessories designed by the pair include specialized SUP fitness products and SUP lifestyle brands. In addition, Seacrest was recently hired by Coastal Paddle Company to oversee the day to day operations, training and staffing for the Pensacola Beach water locations. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to be an integral part of both Coastal Paddle Company and Fitness Onboard®. The combination of the two allows me the ability to travel with Fitness Onboard®, educating others in the field of SUP fitness while continuing to be an essential part of the Pensacola SUP community”, said Seacrest. For more information please contact Coastal Paddle Company at (850) 916-1600 or [email protected]

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Standup paddle boarding continues to make waves along the Gulf Coast

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